adult learners’ characteristics

Adult Learners Characteristics

and teaching implications

Adult learner characteristics

Principles of adult learning

Teaching implications

Adults want to take more

control over learning than

youth: As adults are self directed in their

lives, they transfer this need for

independence to the learning

situation

Adults are autonomous and

self directed

ask for their preferences. allow them to choose among different activities. implement peer and self assessment. show you are available for them.




Adults draw upon their

experiences as a resource for learning.

.

Adults have accumulated a foundation of

experiences and knowledge.

use their experiencers as a resource for learning.

connect their previous knowledge with their new knowledge.




Adults tend to be more

motivated than youth.

This stems from the fact that

they choose to learn English

Adults are goal oriented: they

have clear objectives for

attendig a course.

show them the objectives of the course invite them to share their objectives and make them part of the annual plan. maintain their motivation through varied and relevant activities.




Adults are pragmatic: they want to

put what they learn

immediately into practice.

Adults are relevancy

oriented and practical.

don’t spend too much time with theory. show the applicability of the new knowledge. try to put the students’ needs first. make them use what you’ve taught immediately.




The learner role is secondary for

adults and they must fit their

learning into life’s margins.

Since they have many roles in life, being a student is

not their main priority.

Adults need to

be shown respect.

establish a peer relationship with them. give all the students the same opportunities. be flexible. give deadlines anticipation. extend deadlines.

Adult learner characteristics Teaching implications

Many adults lack confidence in their learning because of

negative past experiences and “rusty” study skills.

use confidence building activities.

teach study skills.

use paiwork and groupwork to reduce anxiety.


Adults are more resistant to change.

They have seen that some changes in life were not for

the best

expalin the reasons underlying the changes.

link new ideas with previous ones.

introduce changes slowly, one by one.


Adult groups are more diverse in terms of age

and experiences.

establish a collaborative atmosphere in the classroom.

present materials in different ways to cater for the different learning styles.


Adults must compensate for aging in learning.

Though adults may have problems related with age, such as sight or motricity, they learn slowly but more

deeply.

check the learning environment.

check you pace in learning to give them time to process the information.

adult learners’ characteristics

Education